July 6, 2018

Keynote Speakers

Bradley R. Wilcox, Associate Professor of Education, BYU

Bradley R.Wilcox is an associate professor in the Department of Ancient Scripture at BYU. He has also served as a member of the Sunday School General Board. He received his bachelor’s degree in elementary education from BYU and taught sixth grade in Provo School District before returning to BYU for a master’s degree in teaching and learning. He received his PhD in curriculum and instruction with a focus in literacy from the University of Wyoming. He joined the faculty at BYU and spent many years in the Teacher Education Department. He moved to Ancient Scripture in 2016. He is the author of the book The Continuous Atonement, and the BYU devotional “His Grace Is Sufficient.” Brother Wilcox served a mission for the Church in Chile and later returned to that country to preside over the Chile Santiago East Mission from 2003 to 2006.

Ardeth G. Kapp, Former YW General President, Educator

Ardeth Greene Kapp received a degree in elementary education from the University of Utah, and a degree in curriculum development from BYU. She spent over ten years serving on curriculum committees for the Church. She is the author of 20 books, including Doing What We Came To Do: Living a Life of Love, and Better Than You Think You Are. She also wrote a series of television programs created by the Utah Education Network. Sister Kapp served as the ninth Young Women General President of the Church from 1984 to 1992. From 1992 to 1995, she accompanied her husband, Heber B. Kapp, while he served as president of the Church's Canada Vancouver Mission. From 2000 to 2003, they served as president and matron of the Cardston Alberta Temple. Sister Kapp is beloved by many for always encouraging Church members to become their best selves in the gospel.

Clark G. Gilbert, President, BYU-Pathway Worldwide

Clark G. Gilbert became the 1st president of BYU-Pathway Worldwide on May 1, 2017. BYU-Pathway Worldwide serves nearly 40,000 students in 500 locations around the world. Prior to his new assignment, he served as the 16th president of Brigham Young University-Idaho. Brother Gilbert previously served as CEO of Deseret News Publishing Company and Deseret Digital Media, where he was recognized as the Innovator of the Year by multiple media associations. Early in his career, he was a professor of entrepreneurial management at the Harvard Business School where he taught and studied in the field of organizational innovation. He received a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University, a master’s degree from Stanford University, and a doctorate degree from the Harvard Business School. Brother Gilbert was born in California and raised in Arizona. After serving as a missionary for the Church in Japan, he married his wife, Christine. They are the parents of eight children.

Additional Speakers

Damon L. Bahr, Associate Professor of Teacher Education, BYU

Damon L. Bahr received a bachelor's degree and a doctoral degree from BYU. He earned a master's degree from Utah State University. He began teaching at BYU in 2006. He taught elementary school for 14 years. He has served in the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators and was president of the Utah affiliate of that organization in 2002. His current research interests include mathematical discourse, public school–university partnerships, and math coaching. Brother Bahr is a father of four children. He enjoys many sports. He has served in numerous callings including Stake President.

Susan C. Eliason, Consultant, Center for Teaching & Learning, BYU

Susan Chieko Eliason is a consultant at BYU’s Center for Teaching & Learning, assigned to work primarily with faculty at the Marriott School of Management, the J. Reuben Clark Law School, the College of Nursing, and Religious Education. She also supervises the CTL's Students Consulting on Teaching (SCOT) program. As a part-time faculty member at the Marriott School, Susan enjoys interacting with students as well. She has designed and presented numerous training programs for Hyundai, Mazda, the LDS Missionary Department, and other large organizations in the U.S and abroad. Susan and her family have lived and traveled throughout the world, finding their greatest delights in missionary work and studying the languages of their host countries. Susan has authored or co-authored several books and articles.

Ignacio García, Professor of History, BYU

Ignacio García is the Lemuel Hardison Redd Jr. Professor of Western & Latino History at BYU. He is the author of seven books on Mexican American politics, civil rights and community studies. He has written on Chicano political parties, the John F. Kennedy presidential campaign as it relates to Latinos, a biography on Hector P. García, an American civil rights icon, the first Mexican American civil rights case decided by the U.S. Supreme Court, and the impact of sports in the Mexican American community. He recently published his memoir Chicano While Mormon: Activism, War and Keeping the Faith. Brother García is a former journalist who covered both civil rights and the wars in Central America and the Middle East. His book When Mexicans Could Play Ball has been optioned for a feature film depicting the unlikely journey of a Mexican American high school basketball team to win Texas state titles in 1943 & 1945.

Barbara E. Morgan Gardner, Associate Professor of Church History and Doctrine, BYU

Barbara Morgan Gardner enjoys teaching religion at BYU. Her research focuses on women in religious leadership, international education, and religious pedagogy. Barbara received her Ph.D. in Instructional Psychology. Her master's degree is in Educational Leadership and Foundations with an emphasis in international education development. She completed post-doctoral work at Harvard University. She served as institute director in Boston which included her assignment as the chaplain at both Harvard and MIT. She continues to serve as the chaplain-at-large in higher education for the LDS Church. She also serves on the BYU Interfaith Outreach Council. Previous to teaching at BYU she worked as a seminary and institute teacher as well as a researcher for the Church Educational System. She was born and raised in Salem, OR, served a Spanish speaking mission in L.A. California, visitors’ center, and currently resides in Provo, UT. Barbara is married to Dustin Gardner.

Barbara Hong, Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of Special Education, BYU-Hawaii

Dr. Barbara Hong obtained her Ph.D. from Columbia University in Special Education, in addition to three master’s degrees in Instructional Practices, Educational Leadership, and as a Learning Specialist from the same institution. In 2014, Dr. Hong was appointed by the U.S. State Department Bureau of International and Information Programs as a Speaker Specialist and Expert on Disability, consulting with ministries of education and governmental agencies around the world. She is a member of the Oxford Educational Research Symposium Advisory Council; Board of Directors for the Council for Exceptional Children; a recipient of the Teacher of Honor award by the International Education Honor Society; President of the University Honor Society; a certified special education teacher, school principal, and district administrator. In 2018, Dr. Hong received the University Exemplary Faculty Award. She recently published a memoir, FAILING UP: A Professor’s Odyssey of Flunking, Determination,and Hope.

Shawn Hunt, Area Director, Seminaries & Institutes of Religion

Shawn Hunt began his career with the Seminary and Institutes over 20 years ago. He began teaching seminary in Coalville. He then he worked in Ogden and in Indianapolis, IN. He has spent many years working in administration. He presently works as a preservice trainer in Orem. Shawn and his wife, Amanda, have five children.

James Judd, Director of Secondary Education for Wasatch County School District

James Judd earned a degree in Biology from Utah State University. He started his career in public education teaching science at Joel P. Jensen middle school in West Jordan. He then completed a master's degree at the University of Utah in educational leadership. He moved to the beautiful Heber Valley to teach at Wasatch Mt. Jr. High. In 2002 he became a school administrator, first, as a vice principal and then as a principal. In 2012 he moved into district administration as the director of human resources. He currently serves at the director of secondary schools in Wasatch County School District. In 2017 he was awarded the Benjamin Cluff Jr. Award for Excellence in Public School Support from Brigham Young University. He lives in Heber City with his wife, Jan, and their five children.

Robert L. Millet, Dean Emeritus of BYU Religious Education, BYU

Robert L. Millet was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on 30 December 1947. He served in the Eastern States Mission from 1967-69. Later, he married Shauna Sizemore in 1971. They have six children. Brother Millet earned B.S., M.S. degrees in Psychology from BYU, and a Ph.D. from Florida State University in Religious Studies. He worked with LDS Social Services, LDS Seminaries and Institutes, and joined BYU Religious Education faculty in 1983. He served as Ancient Scripture Department Chair and as Dean of Religious Education. He is an author and speaker with more than 60 published works on virtually all aspects of Mormonism. He appears frequently as a commentator on BYUtv and in other visible roles at assorted media outlets as Manager of Outreach and Interfaith Relations for the LDS Church's Public Affairs Department.

Rick Nielsen, Superintendent, Nebo School District

Rick Nielsen currently serves as the Superintendent of Nebo School District. He has held this position since 2010. Prior to serving as Superintendent, his career included service as a sixth-grade teacher, elementary school principal, and district-level administrator. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and a Master of Education Degree in Education Leadership from Brigham Young University. In June of 2017 he was appointed to the UVU Board of Trustees. Brother Nielsen and his wife, Karen, reside in Spanish Fork and are the parents of five children. In his leisure time, he enjoys reading a wide-variety of genres, attending the theater, and supporting sporting events.

Russell T. Osguthorpe, Author, Former Sunday School General President

Russell T. Osguthorpe and his wife, Lolly, most recently served as president and matron of the Bismarck North Dakota Temple. He has also served as general president of the Sunday School, area seventy, president of the South Dakota Rapid City Mission, and stake president. His career included faculty appointments at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf in Rochester New York and as a professor and administrator at Brigham Young University. He and his wife are the parents of five children and 23 grandchildren. Brother Osguthorpe served as a missionary in the French Polynesian mission. Following his mission, he pursued his education at BYU in psychology and education, then accepted a faculty position at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf in Rochester, NY. Following his work in Rochester, he served as a faculty member and administrator at BYU for 35 years.

Elizabeth Reynolds, Assistant Principal, Salem Hills High

Elizabeth Reynolds is the assistant principal of Salem Hills High School in the Nebo School District. She received her bachelor's degree in psychology from Utah Valley University with a license in special education. She then earned a master's degree in educational leadership from BYU. She taught special education at Oakridge for three years and at Salem Hills High for three years. Sister Reynolds loves to travel. She has a school in Ghana and a charity in Croatia. She plays volleyball and loves to be outside.

Richard H. Swan, Associate Director, Center for Teaching & Learning, BYU

Richard Swan is a teaching and learning consultant for the Center for Teaching & Learning at Brigham Young University. Richard has been at BYU for fifteen years. During that time he also worked as an instructional designer and has been involved in the development of multimedia titles for BYU faculty members that are now published commercially. These include PostOperative Care and the five-volume Encyclopedia of Nursing Skills, prepared for Sandra Mangum (College of Nursing) and published by Concept Media; PetroGlyph, prepared for Eric Christiansen (Geology) and published by Blackwell Science; and the Virtual ChemLab series, prepared for Brian Woodfield (Chemistry and Biochemistry) and published by both the higher-education and high school divisions of Prentice-Hall. Richard received a BA in Film Studies from the University of Utah in 1988 and both an MS in Instructional Science and PhD in Instructional Psychology and Technology from Brigham Young University.

Chad H. Webb, Administrator, Seminaries & Institutes of Religion

Chad H. Webb received a BA in Spanish and an MA in Educational Leadership & Foundations from BYU. He taught released-time Seminary classes in Salt Lake City,and Institute classes in Virginia, Ogden, and Salt Lake City. In 2008, Brother Webb began working as an administrator for the Seminaries and Institutes of Religion. Recently he has led out in exploring and encouraging the teaching concept of elevating learning. Brother Webb served a mission in Veracruz, Mexico. He and his wife, Kristi, are the parents of six daughters. He is currently serving as the stake president in his stake.